1. Incumbency Advantage
Franking Privilege

2. Incumbency Advantage
Franking Privilege
Pork Barrel

3. Who does Congress represent?

6. Incumbency Advantage Franking Privilege Pork Barrel
Constituent Service

7. Incumbency Advantage Franking Privilege Pork Barrel
Constituent Service
Interest Groups

8. Incumbency Advantage Franking Privilege Pork Barrel
Constituent Service
Interest Groups
Media

9. How a bill becomes a law…

10. How a Bill Becomes a Law
The Process:
Bill Introduction

11. Bill Introduction Any member of Congress can introduce a bill.
Individuals and groups outside of Congress also influence this process.

12. Bill Introduction House – Hopper Senate – Presiding Officer
Tax legislation

13. How a Bill Becomes a Law The Process: Committee Process
Bill Introduction
Committee Process
Up to 90% of bills die here
>>>Subcommittee
Witnesses
Markup
>>>Full Committee

14. How a Bill Becomes a Law The Process: Floor Action Bill Introduction
Committee Process
Floor Action
Filibuster
Cloture
“Nuclear Option”

15. How a Bill Becomes a Law The Process: Conference Committee
Bill Introduction
Committee Process
Floor Action
Conference Committee

16. How a Bill Becomes a Law The Process: Presidential Decision
Bill Introduction
Committee Process
Floor Action
Conference Committee
Presidential Decision

17. Presidential Decision
What options does a president have?

18. Presidential Veto Bush – 12 (none in first term) Clinton - 37
George H.W. Bush - 44
Ronald Reagan – 78
Obama - 2
Clinton also utilized the line item veto

21. Filibuster Who has the power to filibuster?
What effect does the filibuster have on the political process? 
Should the filibuster be retained, partially limited, or ended entirely -- and why? 

23. Earmarks What are earmarks?
How important were they financially, symbolically, and in terms of their significance to the political process? 
Who was helped by the GOP vow against earmarking? 
Was the GOP's decision good or bad for the country?

24. Bicameralism
 What was the main reason the Founders proposed two chambers in Congress? 
Is that the same reason as the states had for creating bicameral legislatures? 
Why are states considering ditching the bicameral system? 
Should the same logic be applied to the U.S. Congress?